Plan A fails. What’s next?

Having the Right Mindset

Good morning, everyone. It’s Sal Celly. Hope you all are doing well. Today I want to write about something that’s very important- what do you do when things do not go according to your plan. If Plan A fails, what’s next? We can all make plans and it’s good to make plans. But many times, the plan is not going to go according to the way we expected it to, or it may get delayed. So in that situation, what do you do?

Reaction to Adverse Outcome

One option is that you panic-that is obviously not a preferred option. The second option is to take a step back, look at what you were trying to achieve, what was the goal and the outcome and your desired objective, and what would the potential routes be to get you there. Now if one route is closed, because it is not going according to plan, you need to explore the other routes. There are multiple ways to get to the destination. If one route is closed, look at the other options.

Those other options may not have been your best choice to begin with, because of factors like ability to execute, time required to execute, resources needed, impact etc. But given now that your option one has been delayed or exhausted or not possible, it is imperative to look at Plan B and Plan C. So do not be disheartened. Do not be in a panic, because that’s not going to help, you need to move forward. So start looking at Plan B. And then chalk that out, break that into steps and finite objectives. And each day you want to make progress towards Plan B and Plan C.

Continue to adapt, Execute and Move Forward

Many times, we make plans but they don’t materialize, the way we wanted them to- it is God’s timing and God’s choice. But we still have to continue to execute and brainstorm and continue to adapt, transform and evolve. The most important thing is to continue to move forward. So if plan A is no longer working, let’s look at Plan B.

As an example, if you were looking at getting some funding for your business, or for a project at hand, and one of the funding sources that you were depending on is no longer coming through, you must look at another option. It doesn’t make any sense to keep on banging on the same door when the door is not opening. The definition of insanity is to keep on doing the same thing and expect a different result. Don’t waste time doing that your time is very valuable, it is very critical.

So given that the door is not opening, don’t waste time trying to open it, look at a different option and a different pathway. That option could be exploring grant or a loan or a home equity line of credit, or talking to other people or looking at making a payment in kind, doing a trade or a barter- there are so many options that can help you get that same objective that you were looking for. This is just an example of funding, it could be the same for making a job change or improving your personal life or having better relationships with the people you interact with or protecting your time or exercising and getting to a better physical well being or mental wellbeing. It could be that you are trying to gain more balance in your life or that you are trying to maximize your potential or improve your emotional intelligence.

Your Starting Point and Your Desired Destination

Whatever the issue is, you have a starting point and you have an ending point. And the way to get from your starting point to your ending point may not be a straight line. It could be a zigzag way, it could be a couple of steps forward and a left turn and then a right turn, and then you eventually get to the destination. Remember, there are multiple solutions to the problem. If one doesn’t work, be creative. Put on your thinking cap and explore the other options.

There are 24 letters in the alphabet. if plan A fails, you still have another 23 options. Hopefully you won’t have to go down the whole path of an additional 23 options….You may hopefully figure out a plan B or C or D and one of them will work. If you liked this post and you want to know more, or you’d like to schedule a complimentary 30 minute discussion with me, please email me at coach@maximizeu.life

Thanks